According to Callahan's research, abortion is frequently a ___ decision.

• A. Coerced
• B. Voluntary
• C. Uninformed
• D. Ambiguous

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that autonomy can be compromised by external pressures in real-world medical decisions. Callahan argued that abortion decisions are frequently shaped by coercive influences—economic hardship, social stigma, pressure from partners or family, and even how access to care or legal frameworks creates constraints. Because of these pressures, what looks like a voluntary choice may actually be driven or constrained by forces beyond the individual’s independent preferences. That’s why “coerced” best captures the pattern Callahan describes.

If a decision were truly voluntary, it would reflect the person’s autonomous preference without significant external pressure. If it were uninformed, the issue would be about lack of knowledge, which is not the central claim here. If it were ambiguous, the focus would be on uncertainty rather than the presence of coercive influences. Recognizing coercion matters ethically because it highlights the need to support genuine autonomy and address the social and relational factors that can unduly push someone toward abortion.